Tax Incentives

The St. Louis Port Authority Commission approved a measure to create a taxing district that will put the Jefferson Arms redevelopment in Downtown West on track to have the highest sales tax rate in the city after previously expressing trepidation over the project.

Legislation from Alderwoman Cara Spencer would establish a mechanism for the city to reimburse 85% of Anders’ payroll, earnings and net profit taxes on new hires at the firm.

In 2017, 66 projects were approved for tax incentives. That number dwindled to 11 in 2023.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson says he's not worried about Kansas' effort to poach the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. But, he says Missouri will put together its own offer — if the teams make information public beforehand about their proposed stadium locations and costs.

The legislation is an expansion of one of the state’s tax incentive programs and could help finance up to 70% of the cost for one or both teams to build a new stadium in Kansas.

Missouri House Majority Leader Jon Patterson called the Kansas legislation a "wakeup call" and anticipates lawmakers will craft a response to keep the two teams.

STAR bonds, or sales tax and revenue bonds, pay for tourist attractions and then use the sales taxes collected at those attractions to pay off the construction debt.

‘Do you really want to put that type of an economic generation in the hands of the state of Missouri?’ said one Kansas House member.

The Salem Republican has taken criticism from both parties for his work on the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act.

One member of the St. Louis County Council called the Boeing request for a $155 million tax abatement on the company’s proposed $1.8 billion investment “tone-deaf timing.” It comes just weeks after the council voted against freezing property taxes for seniors.